Jo Decker

Jo Decker is currently Vice President, Strategy & Growth at BAE Systems, Inc., overseeing the entire growth portfolio for the U.S Army, U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency for the Integrated Defense Solutions (IDS) Business Area within the Intelligence and Security Sector. She is responsible for the development of strategy and growth priorities, managing growth and capture staff, and achieving new aggressive business goals. Jo is an integral member of the IDS senior leadership team and has had a substantial influence on the overall strategy, technology roadmap, and culture of the business area.

Jo joined BAE Systems in January 2019, after serving as the Vice President, Defense Division at GDIT, where she was responsible for all new business and orders for a division with approximate annual revenue of $3 billion, post acquisition of CSRA, and approximately $1.3 billion prior to acquisition. In this role, she also oversaw all integration for GDIT/CSRA, built the combined CSRA and GDIT Defense growth team and structure to enable almost immediate productivity and integration of the combined growth team post acquisition, and briefed members of the House and Senate Authorization and Appropriations Committees on border security solutions.

In addition to her private sector experience, Jo also served in a leadership capacity during her career with the U.S. government as a Senior Executive, including as Acting Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management, where she developed the integrated program and budget submission for the United States Navy and Marine Corps under Title X; and as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics, where she won the Distinguished Civilian Award for her outstanding leadership in assessing, representing, and protecting national security interests in foreign acquisitions under the Committee for Foreign Investments for the US (CFIUS), among other high profile and impactful roles. Jo also served in numerous other senior executive positions during her career to include Director of the Office of Program Appraisal for the Secretary of the Navy and Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources and Requirements.

Jo has sat on the Board of Directors of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) since 2015 and is currently serving as President. Her term expires in 2021. She is also on the Boards of the United States Navy Memorial and the Armed Forces YMCA; as well as serving on the President’s Council for the University of Southern Alabama. Jo holds a Bachelor of Science, Summa cum Laude, from Troy State University in Troy, AL. Her numerous awards include 2017 Women in Defense, Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Award, DoD Women in Leadership Award, and the Naval Intelligence Award, among others.